The Latino Newsletter Podcast

September 5, 2024: America’s Last Tax Haven

For this episode of The Latino Newsletter, we explore the push to ⁠abolish Puerto Rico's Act 22⁠. For those who don't know, Act 22 is a tax incentive that allows American investors to avoid paying federal income taxes by living in Puerto Rico.

Welcome to the colony.

Host ⁠Julio Ricardo Varela⁠⁠ welcomes two guests who are diametrically opposed politically but agree that Act 22 should be abolished. Their arguments, however, are completely different. ⁠Federico de Jesús⁠ says that Act 22 has led to a displacement of Puerto Ricans and increased poverty on the island. ⁠Javier Ortiz⁠ supports statehood for Puerto Rico and believes that the tax structure of the island is a major impediment to achieving equality for Puerto Ricans.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sound design and mixing by Joaquin Cotler.

Music by Cast of Characters via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Donate to The Latino Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

August 29, 2024: Venezuela, One Month Later

It has been one month since Venezuela's presidential elections.

As ⁠NPR noted⁠ this week about the 1-month anniversary, "The incumbent president, Nicolás Maduro, declared himself the winner, but his opposition points to their meticulous work counting votes and receipts from thousands of voting machines that they say prove otherwise. Maduro has been steadfast in his refusal to acknowledge this evidence, despite pressure and skepticism from other governments around the world."

Host ⁠Julio Ricardo Varela⁠ discusses the latest with ⁠Liz Rebecca Alarcón⁠, Venezuelan-American media entrepreneur, political analyst and Founder/CEO of ⁠Pulso⁠.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sound design and mixing by Joaquin Cotler.

Music by Cast of Characters via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Donate to The Latino Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

August 22, 2024: Latinos and Arizona

Arizona is an important 2024 state for so many reasons. So as convention season ends and the real presidential campaigning begins, where will Arizona go in November?

Host ⁠⁠Julio Ricardo Varela⁠⁠ welcomes journalist ⁠Maritza Félix⁠, Founder of ⁠Conecta Arizona⁠⁠⁠⁠, to check in on how Latinos will make a difference this election cycle and why.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sound design and mixing by Joaquin Cotler.

Music by Cast of Characters via ⁠⁠⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Donate to The Latino Newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

August 15, 2024: A Latino Hollywood Check-In

How's Latino Hollywood doing these days?

Host ⁠Julio Ricardo Varela⁠ welcomes ⁠Cristina Escobar⁠, Co-Founder and EIC of LatinaMedia.Co to the show. Cristina discusses the current state of representation, recent wins and the work being done to support and invest in diverse filmmakers... and critics too.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and ⁠⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠⁠.

Sound design and mixing by Joaquin Cotler.

Music by Cast of Characters via ⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠.

Donate to The Latino Newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

August 8, 2024: Latinos and “Rural America”

Host ⁠Julio Ricardo Varela⁠ welcomes ⁠Paolo Cremidis⁠, executive director of ⁠The Outrun Coalition⁠, to talk about the role of Latinos in rural communities. They discuss the misconceptions about rural voters and the challenges of organizing in traditionally red states. Paolo also shares his thoughts about the importance of embracing diversity and the need for the Democratic Party to refresh itself.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and ⁠⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠⁠.

Sound design and mixing by Joaquin Cotler.

Music by Cast of Characters via ⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠.

Donate to The Latino Newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

August 1, 2024: Latinos in the 2024 Cycle

In this debut episode of The Latino Newsletter, host ⁠Julio Ricardo Varela⁠ interviews ⁠Rafael Bernal⁠, a staff writer for The Hill, about the state of Latinos in the 2024 election cycle. They discuss Vice President Kamala Harris, the relationship between Donald Trump and Latinos, the importance of Puerto Rico in the election, and U.S.-Mexico relations.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and ⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠.

Sound design and mixing by Joaquin Cotler.

Music by Cast of Characters via ⁠Soundstripe⁠.

Donate to The Latino Newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.